Folding basket.



A. ZANOLLI.

FOLDING BASKET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1913.

1,089,686. Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

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FOLDING BASKET.

APPLICATION FILLED JULY 7,1913

1,089,686. Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

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llNlTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ANGELO ZANOLLI, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BASKET.

osasse.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANGELO ZANoLLI, residingat Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, asubject of Italy, have invented or discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in Folding Baskets, of which improvement the following is aspecification,

The object of my invention is to provide a basket which will be rigidand serviceable for carrying parcels, but which may lee easily foldedinto a compact fiat form, when not in use.

in the accompanying drawings, which form part of my specification, Ihave illus trated one embodiment of my invention. Figures 1 and 2 arerespectively top plan view and side elevation of the basket opened outready for use; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the basket taken 011the line IHlH, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the basket whenfolded; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V, Fig. 4; andFig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line VIVI, Fig. 5.

In the several figures like numerals are used to designate like parts.

While, in the illustrative embodiment of my invention, the sides andends of the basket are shown diverging outwardly from the bottom, andthe parts shown as con structed of an open mesh basket material, it willbe understood that the basket may be made in any desired shape and ofvarious materials.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thebottom of the basket is formed of two parts 1 and 1 hinged together atthe center preferably by means of double hinges 2, which permit the twoparts to swing downwardly when the basket is folded, and which alsoleave an open elongate space between them. The ends are also each formedof two parts 3 and 3 hinged together at the center by hinges 4c in sucha manner that the end parts may fold inwardly between the sides 5, whichare each formed of a Single piece, hinged both to the bottom 1, 1 and tothe ends 3, 3 as clearly shown.

The handle of the basket is formed of two strips 6 and 6 of spring likematerial, preferably metal. Each strip is hinged to a side 5 in such amanner that it may turn downwardly between the sides; and the two stripsare hinged together at the center of Specification of Letters Patent.Patgntgd lump, 10, 1914 Application filed July 7, 1913.

Serial No. 777,655.

the basket by means of a hinge 7 adapted to prevent the strip fromopening outwardly beyond the position indicated in Fig. 3. B such anarrangement the handle 6, 6 eifectively holds the sides 5 yieldingly inopenbasket position, and materially strengthens the entire construction.The further means which I employ for holding the basket rigid when opencomprise hooks 8, secured preferably to the intermediate portion of thedouble hinges 2, and eyes 12 attached to the right end portion 3 andleft end portion 3*, as viewed in Fig, 1.

Extending between and attached to the central part of the opposite endportions 3 and 3 I provide a closely coiled flexible spring 11, thelength thereof being such that when the basket is opened a slighttension will be exerted upon its two-part ends at the point where theyare hinged together. The arrangement in this regard is such that, whenthe hooks 8 are released, the ends 3, 3 will, through the tension of thecoil 11, be swung inwardly. When the basket is folded the coil 11 xtendsthrough the opening between the bottom portions 1, 1 and forms asuitable handle whereby the basket may be carried in inverted position.In order to fold the basket the hooks 8 are released from the eyes 12and the handle 6, 6 is sprung downwardly, spreading the sides outwardlyuntil the hinge 7 falls below the general plane of the top of thebasket. The coil 11 then becomes effective to swing the ends 3,3Pslightly toward the center of the basket so that the completed foldingthereof may be eifected by pressing the sides 5 together, the foldedposition being clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings. Tothe end that the basket may be held in collapsed position the handlestrip 6 is provided with a spring clip 9 adapted to receive andyieldingly engage a knob 10 attached to the handle strip 6.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding basket, the combination of oppositely disposed sides, abottom formed of tWo pieces each being hinged to the lower edge of aside and hinged together centrally of the basket, oppositely disposedends each formed of two pieces hinged together centrally of the basket,each piece of said ends being hinged to an end of said sides, means forlocking said several parts in open position, and a single means forswinging said ends between said-sides when said locking means arereleased and for carrying the basket when folded.

2. In a folding basket, the combination of oppositely disposed sides, abottom formed of two pieces each being hinged to the lower edge of aside and hinged together centrally of the basket with an interveningspace, oppositely disposed ends each formed of two pieces hingedtogether centrally of the hasket, each piece of said ends being hingedto an end of said sides, means for locking said several parts in openposition, and a coiled flexible spring secured at its opposite ends tothe central portion of said basket ends and exerting a tension thereonwhen the basket is open, said spring adapted to extend through theintervening space between said bottom pieces and thus form a handle forthe basket when folded.

3. In a folding basket, the combination of oppositely disposed sides, abottom formed of two pieces each being hinged to the lower edge of aside and hinged together centrally of the basket, oppositely disposedends each formed of two pieces hinged together centrally of the basket,each piece of said ends being hinged to an end of said sides, and ahandle formed of two yielding strips hinged to ether at the centralportion of the haske? and each hinged to a side, said handle the basketis open to being adapted when the exert a yielding outward pressure uponsides thereof.

at. In a folding basket, the combination of oppositely disposedsingle-piece sides, a bottom formed of two pieces each being hinged tothe lower edge of a side and hinged together centrally of the basket,oppositely disposed ends each formed of two pieces hinged togethercentrally of the basket, each piece of said ends being hinged to an endof said sides, means for locking said several parts in position, acoiled flexible spring attached at its opposite ends to the centralportion of said basket ends and exerting a tension thereon when thebasket is open, a handle formed of two yielding strips hinged to getherat the central portion of the basket and each h'nged to a side, saidhandle being adapted when the a yielding outward pressure upon the sidesthereof, and means borne by said handle parts for tion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ANGELO ZANOLLI. Witnesses:

PETER BARONI, FRANCIS J. TOMASSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iaten'tl,

Washington, D. G.

basket is open to exert locking the basket in closed posi-

